How to choose your wedding date, a real question. For some couples the date is everything – maybe an anniversary, maybe a birthday, or some other date that has fond memories. For others, the date is flexible, depending on the availability of the dream venue, or maybe the availability of close friends and family. In this article, we give you some advice on the questions to ask yourself when choosing your wedding date.

 

Choosing the date for your wedding – thinking about the essentials

  • A symbolic date

 

You may choose a date that has special meaning for both of you – perhaps the date you met, or your engagement date. This can be a key factor in choosing your wedding date.

  • Your professional commitments can have an impact on the decision to choose the date of your wedding.

 

For some people, their job will dictate the wedding date – it isn’t easy for teachers to take time off during term time, however much they’d love to! So be realistic about what you can and can’t do. As I am also a winemaker, my colleagues would not be impressed if I had decided to get married in August or September because of the grape harvest!

  • The personal, professional or educational commitments of key friends and family

 

Let’s be honest, your wedding just wouldn’t be the same if your bestie couldn’t be there to share your happiness, and so if there are people who you can’t imagine celebrating your big day without, you will want to check their commitments and availability.

  • Give advance notice

 

Don’t stress too much about the idea of getting married on a weekday. Every now and then, for one reason or another, this can actually provide you with some real opportunities. Service providers often offer discounts during the week, plus there is less chance your preferred venue or photographer will already be booked. Remember, your guests will be the people who care about you the most, and if you tell them you want to be at your wedding a few months in advance, they will usually make the effort to take the necessary days off work to be at your wedding.

  • Don’t worry too much about the weather

 

The dates that generally benefit from the best weather are often the first to be booked for a wedding. Couples generally hope for good weather so they can make the most of the day and take beautiful photos with a perfect sunset. However, this is not the case for everyone. What’s more, you have to accept that Mother Nature will do as she pleases on the big day. So even a midsummer day in Provence can be a rainy day (although not very often, if we’re honest!). If you want to know more about this, you can read the story of our couple from a few years ago here or in this other article.

  • Seasonal charm

 

Those sunny summer days are also the period when the days are longest. However, unless you absolutely want to dine outdoors, you might consider celebrating your wedding at a different time of year. With the shorter days, your reception venue lit up at night can add even more charm to your special day (not to mention your photos!). What’s more, the charm of autumnal colours can also be a real wow factor! And then, of course, there are those who love winter decorations, which add yet another special touch to a warm, intimate wedding.

Choosing  your wedding date – there are also some practical considerations

  • The date at the town hall for the civil wedding

 

Now this may not be a problem for a destination wedding, but if one of the happy couple is French, then the availability of the town hall for their civil ceremony can be a major factor when it comes to choosing their wedding date. And there are those who absolutely want their wedding date to be on the same day as the reception date. Don’t worry – this can usually be arranged. However, others choose to hold the celebration on a different date to the civil ceremony. This enables them to focus on the day of celebration, perhaps with a non-religious ceremony here at Chateau la Beaumetane. Remember, to secure your preferred reception venue, you will probably need to reserve it well in advance of the date when the town hall starts considering applications. We are used to this – we know what to do and can advise you.

 

  1. Agreeing on a date with a range of service providers

 

If you have a precise idea of the reception venue and the service providers you want for your wedding, you will need to co-ordinate in order to find a date that everyone can make. Obviously, the sooner you get started, the better – and you may need to be prepared to be flexible…

  • Flexibility (or not) of the date

 

Sometimes couples don’t have a huge choice of dates for their wedding. But this need not be a problem. Either a particular date is essential to you and you can postpone the wedding until the following year. Or, and this happens more often than you think, the couple will compromise on one aspect or another to choose the date of their wedding… And in fact, perhaps unsurprisingly, on the big day they have usually forgotten the compromise that was made and are just happy to get married. So that’s one less thing to worry about!

  • That unpredictable event that can disrupt everything…! 

 

Yes, it has happened… The date is set at the town hall, the reception venue is secured, the suppliers and sometimes even the guests are all ready to join you for your big day, and then a little thing decides to disrupt the party a bit and the bride-to-be suddenly faces the prospect of trying to fit into a wedding dress whilst 8 months pregnant! No problem! Of course, there are contracts and so on, but often service providers will work with you to find a compromise and help you cope with this unexpected but happy arrival!

 

So, there you have 10 points to consider when choosing the date for your wedding.  Once you’ve decided on the ideal date, you can set about finding the perfect venue for your wedding …. This article can help you with that next step, unless you’re doing things the other way round, which is also possible!

 

Good luck with your preparations!